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training demonstrators (HQ 157-8428-206). During this low point in the POCAM Dr. King was pursuaded to alter his plans and to go to Memphis, Termessee. in support of a strike involving the city’s sanitatio workers. 2. Memphis Sanitation Worker's Strike On February 12, 1968, approximately 1,000 sanitation workers employed by the city of Memphis called a wildcat strike. The strikers were represented by Local 1733 of the American Federation of State, County and Mmicipal Employees who demanded exclusive recognition of the union as bargaining agent, setting up grievance procedures, wage improvements, pavroll] deduction of unics dues, and a pramtion svstem as wll payroll deduction of wnic. dues, and a promotion sys as a pension, hospitalization and life insurance progran. (HQ 157-9146-X1). The NAACP intervened in the strike because all of the sanitation workers, excluding drivers, were black. A militant young black power group known as the Invaders was similarly interested in the strike. The group consisted of about 15 members, mostly high school dropouts, and was a cell of a larger group know as Black Organizing Power (BOP) headed her feel ae T Pablaea ant Tah B G-tJ+h Tt. ATT uy wh A BD oe Lenina ~ na CA WILLE OF, ALLL Lib, 41 ae aces Se ee oe | Spe pulpvoe of BOP was to stimulate a sense of black identity, black pride and black consciousness in young blacks. -15-